Healing Herbs and Spices

March 13, 2018

Herbs and spices are used in meals for both their culinary and medicinal properties, which can help elevate your health and well-being. For example, spices such as cumin, cardamom, ginger, coriander and fennel are known to reset and strengthen your digestion. Taking a balanced, whole-foods, plant-based approach to nutrition will give you the essential nutrients you need to sustain your body.

Be Adventurous

Try incorporating some of these powerful herbs and spices into your daily meals. Experiment to find which combinations you like, and create your own personal spice blends. An Ayurvedic cookbook, such as Heaven’s Banquet by Miriam Kasin Hospodar, can get you started with suggestions for using spices that are especially balancing for the mind and body each season.

All spices originate from plants: flowers, fruits, seeds, barks, leaves, and roots. Herbs and spices not only improve the taste of foods, but can help preserve them for longer periods of time. Herbs and Spices have antibacterial and antiviral properties and many are high in B-vitamins and trace minerals. True sea salt, for instance, contains 93 trace minerals. Most herbs and spices also contain more disease-fighting antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. The problem in America is that the most potent and healthy herbs are rarely used, mainly from lack of knowledge about them, while the least potent (salt and pepper) are the most commonly used seasonings.

We listed the most nutruient-packed herbs and spices to infuse into your Thanksgiving cooking below.